Lamp-socket.



No. 738,294. v PATENTED SEPT. a, 19013.

W. A. CHURCH. LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED 001 .18. 1902.

no 1101121.. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. v

wflnessea A [rave 707% w: Nonms PETERS ha, PHoTg nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn n c 1 UNITED STATES Patented September 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFIC WALTER A. cnuncn, or BINGI-IAMTON, New YORK, Assienon To Tint BRISTOL BRASS do CLOCK COMPANY, CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, A

LAM P-SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,294, dated September 8, 1903.

Application filed October 18, 1902. Serial No. 127.817. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern: I

Be it known that I, TVALTER A. CHURCH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of N ewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices which are attached to the base of an incandescent lamp and used for the purpose of controlling the electric current supplied to the lamp; and the object of my invention is to provide a device of this class in which there will be little liability of the electric current being communicated to the operating-key and also one in which the parts are so isolated and insulated that there is little liability of the electric current traveling a path not designed for it. A form of device by the use of which these objects may be attained is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in vertical section through the lamp-socket on the line of the axis of the operating-spindle. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section through the socket in a plane at right angles to the plane of view of Fig. 1 with the switch-head removed. Fig. 3 is a face view of the line-wire section of the base. Fig. at is a like view of the lamp-section of the base. Fig. 5 is aview looking at the under side of the lamp-section of the base. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the switchhead. Fig. 7 is an end View of the same. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the conductor and its contacts. Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the key, spindle, and connected parts. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the switchhead bearing. Fig. 11 is adetail perspective view showing the construction of the latter. Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of the operating-cam. Fig. 13 is a view in section through the same. Fig. 14 is a view in side elevation of the lamp-section oi the base with part cut away to show the connection between the binding-post and contact, each of the above views being on enlarged scale.

Myimproved lamp-socket consists of a base made in two parts or sectionsa line-wire section 1 and a lamp-section 9, the former receiving on opposite sides the wires which conduct the electric current and the latter immediately supporting the lamp. These parts are inclosed in a casing shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1; but as the construction of this part is well known further illustration and description are deemed unnecessary to a proper understanding of the invention.

The wiresection lot the base is formed in any desired manner of insulating material, as porcelain or the like, and has on opposite sides grooves 2 for the reception of the line-wires. There is also formed in this wire-sectionbearing-post sockets 3, binding-post sockets at, and a recess 5 for the switch-head. A bindingpost (i is secured at its base and projects within one of the binding-post sockets 4c and has a contact 7 projecting therefrom through a eontact-openin g S into the switch-head recess 5. This contact 7, it will be noted, lies in the bottom of the switch-head recess and is flexible and has its end curved to facilitate contact with the switchhead.

The lamp-section 9 of the base is also provided with binding-post and bearing post sockets, as described with reference to the line-section, the respective sockets being oppositely disposed for the reception of opposite ends of the respective posts. This lamp-section has a binding-post 1.0, provided with a suitable attachment for a line-wire, and this post extends downward through the substance of the section and bears a contact 11, located in a groove on the under surface of the section. The contact terminates inafoot 12, which is located at the bottom of a recess 13. This base is also provided with a bearing-piece 14., which has its feet 15 located in the bottom of a recess 16 in the under surface of the base. Screws 17 pass through openings in the two sections, two screws preferably being used, one of which engages a screwthreaded opening in the foot 12 and the other a like opening in the foot 15.

A conductor 18 is located in the bottom of the switch-head socket in the lamp-seetion of the base and has a contact 19 projecting therefrom in a position to cooperate with a contact on the switch-head. This conductor is held between a clamp 20 and the bottom of the re cess, the clamp being held in place by a clampscrew 21, that'serves the double purpose of holding the clamp and also for holding alampstem 22. The latter is of angular form on one end and fits in a recess of similar form in the lamp-section of the base. This stem is screw threaded for the reception of the lamp and is also recessed for the head of the clampscrew 21.

Bearing-posts 23 and 24: project into the respective sockets in the lamp-section and wiresection of the base. an opening for the spindle or shaft 25. The post 24 has a cam-boss 26, which is formed of a separate piece, as shown in Fig. 11, the end of the boss being of angular shape to fit a corresponding hole in the post. This boss has two sets of cam-recesses 27 28 for the purpose of receiving and holding the cam to be hereinafter described.

The spindle 25 is provided with a key 29, secured thereto, and the spindle is mounted in the bearing-posts 23 2 1. This spindle 25 has a flattened portion 30, adapted to rest in a slot 31 in the cam 32. This cam has a recess 33 for the reception of the round portion of the spindle 25.. The cam-stem 34 is angular in'cross-section, as shown, and the end opposite the cam is cut across, the two opposite sides being bent in, forming lips 35. The slot 31 is located betweenthe edges of the lips 35. Collars 36 37 are located on the spindle, the collar 37 being pinned thereto, and a spring 38 is also located on the spindle between these collars.

An important feature of the invention resides in locating the conductor 39 within the substance of the switch-head 40. This conductor terminates at each end in contacts 41. The contacts are of U shape, embracing a support 42, formed by slots cut in the body of the switch-head. The conductor 39 rests in a cylindrical groove in the body of the switchhead, and after the conductor has been placed this groove is filled with an insulating material, so that the contacts only are exposed. This switch-head has a neck projecting from each end, the cam-boss 26 and cam 32 lying Within the recess formed by the neck 011 one end of the switch -head. An angularshaped opening extends from this recess in which the stem 34: of the cam rests, and the collar 36 and spring 38 are located in the recess formed by the neck on the other end of the switch-head.

It will be noted that-the contacts 41, located on the body part of the switch-head, are isolated from the spindle or any of its contact parts by means of the projecting necks on the switch-head, so that there is no danger of the electric current being communicated to this spindle.

In the operation of the device the parts being in position, as shown in Fig. 1, the circuit is broken, the cam 32 resting in the deeper recess 28 in the cam-boss 26. As the key 29 is turned opposite sides of the flat Each of these posts has portion of the spindle 25 thrust against opposite walls of the slot 31, which is somewhat greater in width than the thickness of the flat portion of the spindle. This causes the cam 32 to be turned, carrying with it the switchhead. The cam riding upon the walls of the recesses 28 moves the switch -head longitudinally, so that the several contacts are sure to engage. When a quarter-turn of the key has been given, the points of the cam rest in the slots 27 and the several contacts on the switch-head and on the sections of the base are brought into engagement. If the key is now given another quarter-turn the points of the cam will be forced out of the recesses 27 into the recesses 28, the switchhead will be thrown back by the operation of the spring 38, and the circuit will be broken.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination in a lamp-socket, a base formed in two sections each having a recess and together forming inclosed recesses for the body part and necks of a switch-head,

the switch-head having necks and a body portion located in said recesses, a conductor located in the body part of the switch-head and with the contacts only exposed on the surface, means for operating the switch-head, and contacts and binding-posts appurtenant to the several parts.

2. A switch-head for a lamp-socket con sistin g of a body part with a neck projecting from each side, a groove in the body part concentric with the neck and supports for a contact, a conductor located in said groove and having contacts at each end embracing said supports, and an insulating material filled into said groove and inclosing the conductor.

3. In a lamp-socket, a base, a spindle having a flattened portion, a cam fitting upon said spindle and having a slot for the reception of the flattened portion, a spindle-support having a cam-boss to cooperate with said cam, a switch-head mounted on the spindle, a support for the oppositeend of the spindle, and contacts and binding-posts appurtenant to the several parts.

4. In a lamp-socket, a base, a spindle projecting through the base and having a rounded and a flattened portion, a cam having an opening fitting the rounded portion of the spindle, and a slot for the reception of the flattened portion which has a limited rotary movement therein, a switch-head mounted on the spindle, a support having a cam-boss to cooperate with said cam, a support for the opposite end of the spindle, and binding-posts and contacts appurtenant to the several parts.

5. A cam for a lamp-socket having a recess round in cross-section and a stem of angular shape in cross-section and with lips turned in from the side walls of the recess and forming a slot for the reception of a spindle.

6. A cam for a lamp-socket including the cam portion and a shank, a recess round in ICC cross-section extending through the cam por tion into the shank, and lips inturned from opposite sides of the recess and forming the bottom thereof and With a slit between the inner edges of the lips.

'7. A support for the spindle of a lampsocket consisting of a body part having an angular opening, a boss having an angular part fitting said opening an d a shoulder to rest against the face of the support, and cam-recesses located in said boss.

8. A support for the spindle of a lampsocket consisting of a base having an angular recess, a boss having an angular portion to fit said recess and a shoulder to rest against the face of the support, a recess for the spindle extending through the boss, and ca1n-recesses located therein.

9. I11 a lamp-socket, a sectional base, a spindle projecting into said base, a bearing for said spindle on one side of the base, a boss separate from but secured to the base and having cam-recesses and with a recess for the spindle extending through the boss, a switchhead located in a recess in the base and having a cam cooperating with the recess in the boss, means for turning the spindle, and contacts and binding-posts appurtenant to the several parts.

10. In a lamp-socket, a sectional base, supports for a spindle located in the base, a spindle mounted in said supports, and having a rounded and a flattened portion, a cam mounted on the spindle and having an opening therein to receive the round portion and a slot for the reception of the flat portion, a switchhead mounted on the spindle, and bindingposts and contacts appurtenant to the several parts.

11. In a lamp-socket, a sectional base, a support for one end of a spindle, a boss sepa rate from but secured to said support and having cam recesses, a spindle with one end mounted in the support and extending through the boss and having a rounded and a flattened portion, a cam having a rounded opening for the round portion of the spindle anda slot formed by inturned lips for the flat portion of the spindle, a switch-head mounted on said spindle, contacts and binding-posts appurtenant to the several parts, and a support for the opposite end of the spindle.

12. In a lamp-socket, a sectional base, a support for one end of the spindle, a boss separate from but secured to said support and having an opening for the spindle, a support for the opposite end of the spindle, aspindle mounted in said supports and having a rounded and a flattened portion, a cam having a central opening for thereception of the round portion of the spindle and a slot formed by inturned lips for the reception of the fiat portion of the spindle, a switch-head having necks inclosing said cam and other portions of the device, and binding-posts and contacts appurtenant to the several parts.

WALTER A. CHURCH.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR B. JENKINS, ERMA P. OonnRIN. 

